10/1/15

Mark Townsend| Yahoo Sports- After clinching their first division title since 2006 over the weekend, the only thing that could go wrong for the New York Mets this week would be an injury to a key player. On Wednesday night in Philadelphia, things very nearly went catastrophically wrong, as star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was struck on the left hand with an 89-mph fastball from Phillies right-hander Justin De Fratus. Fortunately, the Mets star avoided a major injury. X-Rays were taken and no broken bones were revealed. Cespedes was diagnosed with contusions to two fingers, meaning he should be good to go again in a couple days.

(Chris Soto: The moment I saw the HBP my immediate reacton was "Oh no...there goes the Mets luck." Luckily, Yeonis Cespedes escaped with only bruising rather than a devastating fracture this late in the season. Which brings me to this point....as much as the team wants to win home field advantage, at what point can you just not continue putting players at risk for injury. Your in the playoff already and the only way your going to win is to have everyone at 100%. It is certainly a thin line that Terry is going to have to teeter on during these last 4 days of the season.)

Kenny DeJohn| Rising Apple- Bartolo Colon...intends to pitch in 2016. “I think for personal records I think I was OK,” Colon told Ackert. “I know 14-13 means a lot for me. I think I did everything in my power to help the team and put it in position to win.” Colon, who will be 43 next May, has gone 29-26 with a 4.14 ERA, 3.71 FIP and 1.235 WHIP in two years (396 innings) with the Mets. He leads all starters in 2015 with 1.1 BB/9.

(Chris Soto: Good for Colon. Despite what the stats or the radar gun may say, Bartolo has still been an effective pitcher at his advanced age. He could very well be the next Jamie Moyer, pitching until age 45/46. Unfortunately, I just don't see that being with the Mets. It's been fun having him around the past two seasons and he has been certainly worth every penny despite the WAR statistic saying he wasn't. However, the Mets just have WAY too much good, talented, and young arms that will be in the rotation or fighting for a rotation spot next year already. Going into 2016 you already have Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, Matz, and Niese [who is still under contract], followed by Rafael Montero and Zack Wheeler, who is scheduled to return in June.)

David Hong | Metsmerized Online- With the news that left-hander Steven Matz has been scratched altogether from starting against the Phillies because of back stiffness, manager Terry Collins announced on Wednesday night that left-hander Sean Gilmartin will start for the Mets on Thursday during the series finale at Citizens Bank Park. Backing up Gilmartin after an expected four inning work load, or piggy-backing him if you will, is right-hander Tim Stauffer.

(Chris Soto: This is actually going to be a very interesting audition for Gilmartin. Carlos Torres is arbitration eligible this off-season and I do not expect the Mets to tender him a contract for 2016. This means that swing man long relief/occasional high leverage role is going to be open next season and Gilmartin seems like an excellent fit for that role in the future. At the same time, since they now control him fully via the Rule 5 draft, the Mets could send him down to AAA next season to be a full-time starter as an insurance policy should one of the big guns get hurt next season.)

@Tom -- very true. He must gnash his teeth every time Bobby Parnell, Eric O'Flaherty and others get handed the ball, saying to himself, "I'm pitching to a sub 3.00 ERA over here...what does a guy have to do to get noticed?"

Chris Soto, I understand the fear of injury, but they are ballplayers and they need to play. You can't surround them in bubble wrap. I felt the same way when Thomas complained about David Wright hurting himself on a slide. It's the nature of the game.

The hitters need to hit, the pitchers need to pitch, in order to stay sharp and effective. I don't think playing halfway gets you anywhere or keeps you particularly safe. But yes, let's not crash into any walls.

I followed Gilmartin through school and had him high on my draft list. I consider the Mets getting him in the Rule 5 a steal and my hopes were that he would help out in the pen, but, in the long run, he's a starter, and if he has cured all his pitching woes as it seems, stretching him out could be an option.